tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177340822024-03-13T16:19:35.596-04:00Just Camping Out<b><center>Camping tips and stories for regular people</center></b>Jim Besseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07875352026571948234noreply@blogger.comBlogger20314tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17734082.post-78025151122649758062012-07-22T21:59:00.000-04:002012-07-22T21:59:49.794-04:00Camping with your dog -- a new experience for us<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-via="jbdzyne_camping" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">
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<b>by Jim Bessey</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peDhjYSigEo/UAynkviDn6I/AAAAAAAACrU/McULb7mpqIY/s1600/KOA+first+camp+6-2012+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Camping with Layla the dog, happy in her camp chair" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-peDhjYSigEo/UAynkviDn6I/AAAAAAAACrU/McULb7mpqIY/s400/KOA+first+camp+6-2012+(3).JPG" title="Camping with Layla the dog, happy in her camp chair" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our husky/lab mix, Layla, likes camping and camp chairs</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Until this year, we had <b>never camped with a dog befor</b>e. We didn't have a dog, so that was an easy choice. In February, we rescued our sweet girl, Layla, through the wonderful services of <a href="http://www.lollypop.org/site/c.clKUI9OQIoJcH/b.7792285/k.BCC6/Dogs.htm#.UAyooGGe7uc" target="_blank">Lollypop Farm</a>. She's young, about a year and a half, and full of energy. So far, she hasn't spent much quality time with other dogs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">On our first camping outing with our dog, we were worried. We stayed close to home at <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2008/09/campground-reviews-koa-of-canandaigua.html" target="_blank">KOA Canandaigua</a>, a place we've stayed at many times before. We weren't sure what to expect. <b>Would she bark the whole time? </b>Whine all night? Would she even be willing to sleep in the camper?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">That first trip, we <b>brought her food but forgot her dishes</b>. We did remember to bring a short cable tie-out, one short enough to keep her safely on our site. I bought her a brand new rawhide bone to keep her happily occupied. We even brought an extra camp chair just for Layla.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Turns out, we needn't have worried so much. After a tour of the resort, with a chance for our dog to make a few friends, we took her to a <b>run-free area provided by the campground</b> and let her loose for a bit. She tired of that soon enough, and was perfectly happy to return to our campsite.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We have a cupboard full of old pans, so the no-dishes problem was easily solved. She did bark loudly and predictably whenever another camper strolled by with dog in-tow. But she also calmed down on command and <b>eventually got used to having walk-by visitors</b>. She loved the hiking/biking trails, too.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>she didn't like the well water there</i></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Nighttime brought the ultimate test. I had visions of tethering her outside, where she'd sleep in her new favorite "cave" -- under the camper. Our camper's pretty small, but it turned out </span><b>she really liked sleeping inside</b><span style="background-color: white;"> with us. Luckily, there's another "cave" in there, right under our queen-size bed. Though she was up and ready to go out fairly early (7 am!), she passed the night calmly, sleeping.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We've had two more trips since that first time. Once for five days at <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-three-at-spruce-row-campsite-we-hit.html" target="_blank">Spruce Row Campground</a> (she didn't like the well water there), and a return trip this past weekend to the KOA. She still barks at passing dogs, and <b>she doesn't like it much when I leave on an errand</b>. Otherwise, camping with our dog has worked out just fine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I'm very glad that Layla likes camping. Now that we've done it, I can't imagine going away without her. The <b>thought of boarding her while we're off camping</b> doesn't appeal one bit. She's good company, and faithfully guards our campsite the whole time. Funny, though -- she's always happy to hop back in the truck and cruise on home when we're done camping.</span><br />
<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #006600;">_______________________________________________</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> How about you? Do you camp with your dog(s)? Have you had any weird experiences doing that, or have any great advice to share?</span>Jim Besseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07875352026571948234noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17734082.post-74964275518918433642012-07-15T14:25:00.000-04:002012-07-15T14:45:46.715-04:00Signs, Signs -- Why can't highway signs work better?<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-via="jbdzyne_camping" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">
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<b>by Jim Bessey</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.writingfordesigners.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="highways signs from Writing for Designers, Geo Mason Univ" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.writingfordesigners.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/signs.jpg" title="highways signs from Writing for Designers, Geo Mason Univ" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from a great sign article at <a href="http://www.writingfordesigners.com/?p=1679" target="_blank">Writing for Designers</a>, Geo Mason U</td></tr>
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Why are highway signs so often barely adequate? Anyone who drives a big Class A motorhome or pulls a trailer far from home knows exactly what I mean. When expressways divide or have complicated exits, why aren't the signs better? <b>Why don't we get better warnings for major lane changes?</b><br />
<br />
We don't all use GPS. Some of us just print out the MapQuest directions, or --heaven forbid!-- <b>use ordinary paper road maps</b>. Maybe we don't like that metallic voice yakking in our ears like a back seat mother-in-law. So we need good signs. We need advance notice.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Those are the drivers you see in panic mode</i></blockquote>
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Add my truck and camper together and I've got a <b>10,000-pound train that's over 40 feet long</b>. You don't want me to have to make a sudden lane change right in front of you. Ever seen a camping trailer on its side in the median? I have, and it's not pretty.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jax-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/10990131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://jax-cdn.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/10990131.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-03-12/story/9a-steadily-becoming-i-295-beltway" target="_blank">Jacksonville.com</a> article</td></tr>
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If you give me <b>"JCT 490W/490E 1/4 MI"</b> (a real sign) in four lanes of heavy traffic, that's only about 400 yards to work with. City through-loops and by-passes are notorious for doing this to drivers. Sure, the locals know they have to cross over three lanes --quick!-- and be in the far right lane to hit the Exit Only ramp in time. But for out-of-towners? Those are the drivers you see in panic mode. Now add a trailer or 5th wheel into the equation and <b>bad things can happen in a hurry.</b><br />
<br />
When you're driving or towing a large RV, the need to <b>make sudden short-notice lane changes</b> can be deadly. You have to trust your mirrors and the drivers around you. Nobody wants to get stuck behind you, so they pass you any way they can. What if it's pouring rain? Pray, or play it safe and miss your exit.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldhum.com/images/uploads/highway_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="better design for highway signs" border="0" src="http://www.worldhum.com/images/uploads/highway_sign.jpg" title="better design for highway signs" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from another <a href="http://www.worldhum.com/travel-blog/item/highway_signs_and_the_corporate_identity_of_a_country_20070813/" target="_blank">cool sign article</a>!</td></tr>
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It's an <b>easy problem to fix</b>. I've seen those rare places where the DOT got it right. They pick a handy overpass about a mile ahead of a major split, and they draw you a giant picture. You don't have to read little signs with numbers; just follow the big arrows. <i>"OK, so the two left lanes keep going, but the right one goes north and next one in goes south."</i> How simple was that?<br />
<br />
And it's the "<b>mile in advance</b>" that really matters.<br />
<br />
When drivers have plenty of time to work their way into the correct lane there's <b>room for courtesy to work</b> its magic. You can change lanes at speed, instead of forcing drivers behind you to hit the brakes. With room to react, most drivers are happy to let big rigs get where they need to go. Nobody wants to get crunched!<br />
<br />
I'll bet<b> rescue workers and the automobile insurance companies</b> are with me on this rant. Let's do some math, in this fictional (but realistic) accounting: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">One badly-damaged full-size pick-up: $15,000</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">One destroyed travel trailer: $21,000</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Value of possessions ruined in crash: $1,800</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Two other vehicles damaged by collision: $12,000</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Hospital stay for one injured motorist: $31,000</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;">Deployment cost for three police cars, two fire trucks, ambulance, critical care response unit, and a dozen or more first-responders -- ?? Certainly $2,000 or more.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><b> TOTAL: at least $80,000</b></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
I don't know how the math works for those <b>totally cool giant-picture road signs</b>, but I'm willing to wager that $80,000 will buy more than one. (Pennsylvania's DOT spent about $60,000 for <i>thirty </i>big road signs in <a href="http://sweetness-light.com/archive/stimulus-road-signs-in-pennsylvania-cost-60000-themorningcall-com" target="_blank">this story</a> from 2009.) And if better signage can save just ONE life, what's that worth? </div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #006600;">_______________________________________________</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">How about you? Do you have any pictures of almost-worthless highway signage</span><span style="background-color: white;">? <b>Send me you photo</b> and I'll publish it here. You can reach me via </span><b style="background-color: white;">Comments</b><span style="background-color: white;"> or by using the link at the top of this page.</span>Jim Besseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07875352026571948234noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17734082.post-12663045078484785442012-07-08T16:58:00.000-04:002012-07-08T17:06:38.102-04:00Review of Spruce Row Campground in Ithaca, NY -- We'll likely return to stay again<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-via="jbdzyne_camping" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">
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<b>by Jim Bessey</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8fUWNduwFA/T_nnWuS-cQI/AAAAAAAACpw/EZXWSYoQzZE/s1600/Spruce+Row+Camp+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jim and Nick enjoy a quiet game of Gin at Spruce Row Campground" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W8fUWNduwFA/T_nnWuS-cQI/AAAAAAAACpw/EZXWSYoQzZE/s320/Spruce+Row+Camp+006.JPG" title="Jim and Nick enjoy a quiet game of Gin at Spruce Row Campground" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim and Nick enjoy a quiet game of Gin at Spruce Row Campground</td></tr>
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After 6 years of <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/search/label/Campground%20reviews">trailer camping</a> all around our region, we decided to try a <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-one-at-spruce-row-campground-ithaca.html">new camping resort</a>, sight unseen. My wife wanted to see more of the Ithaca region, so I made last-minute reservations at <a href="http://www.sprucerow.com/index.asp" target="_blank">Spruce Row Campground</a> by phone and the pleasant voice on the other end of the line assured me we'd have a fine site, with plenty of room, grass and shade. She was right, and <b>we're all glad we went</b>.<br />
<br />
By the<a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-three-at-spruce-row-campsite-we-hit.html"> third day at Spruce Row</a>, we'd toured most of the roads and trails on foot. We'd also piled all four of us (Layla included) in the truck and had a whirlwind tour of Ithaca (very busy), the Cornell University Campus, and a fine <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/while-camping-at-spruce-row-campground.html">hike along the Taughannock Falls Gorge</a>. When we finally checked out on Friday under a blistering sun, we were <b>sorry to say good-bye</b>, especially to the awesome pool!<br />
<br />
Here's our round-up, all on a scale of 1 to 10, with "10" for Awesome:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Spruce Row Campground</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2271 Kraft Road</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ithaca, NY 14850</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Phone (607) 387-9225</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Online: <a href="http://www.sprucerow.com/index.asp">Spruce Row website</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Location and Ease of Access: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Between State Routes 89 and 96, between Trumansburg and Ithaca above Cayuga Lake</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Nearby Attractions: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>THREE State Parks, swimming and hiking, wineries, the lake, museums, shopping, and the whole city of Ithaca</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>First Impressions: 8</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Nice entry, homey store/office, pool and mini-golf up front. Pleasant staff.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Site Layout, Roads, Grass and Trees: 9</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Lots of shade, grass, doggie trails. Roads designed to reduce through traffic.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Campsites: Size, variety, maintenance, hook-ups, tables and fire rings: 8</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Plenty of site choices, spacious, easy to pull-thru. Tables and fire rings need upgrading.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Resort amenities: Store, pool, games and activities: 8</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Pretty basic store, delightful pool, an OK mini-golf course, minimal activities and game room. Tons of green space for outdoor fun and games.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sprucerow.com/facility/facility8_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.sprucerow.com/facility/facility8_s.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spruce Row store (website photo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Rules and Reg's: reasonable or intrusive? 7</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Hate the speed-bumps, pool and dog rules are fine. Seasonal sites a bit unkempt.</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="background-color: white;">Over-all Rating: 8.5</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>We'd stay there again, and recommend Spruce Row to our camping friends.</b></i></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #006600;">_______________________________________________</span></b></div>
How about you? Do you have a <b>campground review</b> you'd like to share? If you'd like to submit your review for posting, you can reach me via <b>Comments</b> or by using the link at the top of this page.Jim Besseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07875352026571948234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17734082.post-85262343169743685232012-07-08T15:39:00.000-04:002012-07-08T15:39:43.646-04:00Our rotted camper floor: New tile to the rescue!<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="none" data-via="jbdzyne_camping" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript">
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<b>by Jim Bessey</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_fVh62iWsU/T_nhDeRKBQI/AAAAAAAACpY/yAt9W2q3wPM/s1600/Spruce+Row+Camp+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Porcelain tile fixes rotten floor in our 1980 Shasta camp trailer" border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_fVh62iWsU/T_nhDeRKBQI/AAAAAAAACpY/yAt9W2q3wPM/s640/Spruce+Row+Camp+001.JPG" title="Porcelain tile fixes rotten floor in our 1980 Shasta camp trailer" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porcelain tile fixes rotten floor in our 1980 Shasta camp trailer </td></tr>
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This isn't my usual place for <a href="http://thedzynezone.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">writing about tile</a>, but my recent experience with some <b>serious rot in our camper's floor </b>makes the exception. I wanted a durable, rock-solid new floor and porcelain floor tile seemed like a fine fit for that. Doesn't hurt that tile is almost always pretty, too.<br />
<br />
When we bought our 1980 Shasta camper about 6 years ago, the floor just inside our door and into the bathroom had a "soft spot." I fixed that by doing some plywood patching, by adding<b> floating laminate flooring</b> in the main area, and by overlaying linoleum in the bathroom. Until last month, that was good enough.<br />
<br />
When Lin and I went camping earlier in June, we discovered that the <b>"soft spot" had returned</b> with a vengeance. Afterward, I parked the camper in our driveway turn-around and set up shop. We had another <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-three-at-spruce-row-campsite-we-hit.html">camping trip</a> coming right up, so I had to hustle. First I had to fix the steel fold-out step, which was very springy (that was a clue for me for what was to follow).<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The extent of the rot made me sick</i></blockquote>
<br />
The floor problems began right inside the door, the single highest-traffic part of our camper. I knew some <b>serious fixing was in order</b>, so I put a new blade in my cordless sawz-all and started what I'd hoped would be a strategic surgery. No such luck.<br />
<br />
The damage was horrendous: wet-rotted frame members,<b> plywood so soft I could crush it in my hands</b>. The extent of the rot made me sick. It went under the entry closet, over to the oven cabinet, and all the way to the bathtub. In all, I had to remove everything down to the protective metal under-skin for a total of over 15 square feet.<br />
<br />
<b>Even the wooden 2 by 2 framing was ruined</b>, and that's what held everything together.<br />
<br />
Talk about needing a Plan B! I had to search my shop for suitable materials and <b>start improvising </b>right away. Had to cut out the bottoms of the closet and the vanity, just to get access. I laid in strips of 5/8" floor decking to span the <b>dead space over the black water tank</b>. Had to locate the metal cross-members and screw that down to firm it up.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The right trim and finish fixes everything</i></blockquote>
<br />
Next came a layer of 1 by 6 pine at right angles to the floor plywood, to tie things together and gain some strength (since I couldn't plywood the whole floor in one shot). Trouble was, the 1 by 6 material was too thick to go <i>under </i>the existing floor plywood--the <b>old and new floors had to "interlock."</b> So I had to switch to 7/16" plywood, slip it under the old floor where it was still good, then infill with 1/4" lauan plywood.<br />
<br />
Doesn't that sound like fun?<b> Took me an entire Saturday</b> to do all that.<br />
<br />
I used up all my 'scrap' material, two tubes of Liquid Nails, and had to make another run to Lowe's for more plywood. Ran out of screws; ran out of underlayment staples. <b>Ran out of daylight,</b> too.<br />
<br />
It all worked out in the end, though. The <b>floor was oddly-built and ugly</b>, but felt really solid underfoot. With another full day available to me, I set-up for tile cutting, grabbed two boxes of left-overs from the garage, and spent a few hours cutting and laying new 12 by 12 porcelain tiles. Trust me, there were some <i>tricky </i>cuts!<br />
<br />
The right trim and finish fixes everything. I scrounged through all of my left-over shoe moldings, some newly-acquired scribe moldings that matched perfectly, and <b>caulked all the grout joints</b> with tile-industry caulk that would stay permanently flexible. I figured grout would just crumble and fall out once I got back on the road.<br />
<br />
You be the judge. Take a close look at the picture above. It's nothing fancy, really; but I'm hoping this floor will last until we're read<b>y to give up on our 30-year-old camping trailer</b>. It survived our week-long <a href="http://dzynezone.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-one-at-spruce-row-campground-ithaca.html">camping trip</a> very nicely.<br />
<b><span style="color: #006600;">_______________________________________________</span></b><br />
How about you? Have you ever had to do some emergency surgery on your camper? It's not fun, is it?Jim Besseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07875352026571948234noreply@blogger.com4